STRIVE, INTERNATIONAL & STRIVE, northern new england

Tom co-founded STRIVE, INTERNATIONAL and founded STRIVE, NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND

STRIVE, INTERNATIONAL

In 1984, a group of ten gathered in a 100-square foot basement office of an East Harlem-based housing project. This was the first class of STRIVE, a new take on job training and placement that focused not just on getting the chronically unemployed into jobs, but keeping them there. STRIVE used a “tough love” approach to work readiness, focusing on low-income New Yorkers’ attitudes and behaviors.

STRIVE was founded through a collaboration between Sam Hartwell and Tom Rodman, two Manhattan-based bankers who were troubled by the chronic unemployment problem facing the residents of East Harlem and other American inner-cities in the 1980s.

STRIVE’s innovative model, which ran counter to much of the conventional wisdom in employment and training at the time, combined a short, intense period of training in attitude, self-presentation and job search techniques with rapid placement and long-term follow-up.

More than two decades later, the STRIVE model has moved to over 20 cities nationwide and overseas, administered by a wide network of community-based organizations who have helped nearly 50,000 individuals across America enter the workforce. Though still headquartered in East Harlem, STRIVE today is an international leader in helping individuals with significant barriers to employment receive the training and support they need to obtain meaningful work and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

To learn more about STRIVE International,
visit, striveinternational.org

STRIVE, NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND

Tom Rodman is the founder of STRIVE, NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND. His mission is to grow the responsible and enthusiastic workforce that Maine needs while transforming lives; reducing prison recidivism; and transitioning people off government support.

Maine population trends - combined with projected new job creation - means that the future of Maine’s economy depends upon increasing the number of enthusiastic and responsible younger people in the workforce.

Maine’s prison recidivism rate and the number of people remaining on government support can be significantly reduced through a work readiness program that includes effective attitudinal training.

STRIVE, NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND has the expertise and experience to directly address these needs.

Interviewing successfully; obtaining a job; and keeping it depend upon understanding the expectations and requirements of the workplace.

STRIVE has a 30 year history of preparing people - including those at risk - to succeed at work. Over 50,000 people are working right now thanks to the STRIVE model.

To learn more about STRIVE Northern New England,
visit our site, strivenne.org.